Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-02-07
A NEW CRAZE IN FLOWERS
w WASHINGTON IN LOVE WITH
THE SACRED LILY OF CHINA.

a Pretty Little Story of the Origin of
tho Flower - Something About the
Washington Residence of the Celestial
Legation - Gay Young Real Estate
DeaIers-Cieyeland's Friend Scott.
WAsHINGTON, Feb. 5.-T sacred
while lily of China is fast becoming the
floral craze in Washington. They were
first brought to the city by a member Of
the Chinese Legation, and are still very
rare, in fact, ARE obtanable from one florist
only. They were given prominent place
among the floral decorations at the chi
nese Embassy on the night OF the ball. A
very pretty Oriental legend attaches to
them. According 10 the story there lived
In China three or four centuries ago a la
borer who, on his dealh-bed, bequeathed
to his oldest son all the valuable portion
of the scanty accumulations of his lite
time. leaving his only otner son nothing
but hls name and piece of marsh land
which was not worth owning. The luck
less young Celestial felt so Respondent at
his fOrlOrn and pennileSs condition that
thoughts of suicide entered his mind, and
he wandered toward his marsh with the
Intention of drowning himself in its wa
ters. Upon approaching the spot, what
was his surprise and JOY TO find the place
a mass of snow-white bloom, rising
from the Dlade-ike leaves along the
water everything the swampy tract
while the air was heavy with the delight
full perfume. He regarded the incident
as good omen, and was SO impressed by
the beautiful sight that he forgot all
about his suicidal intentions and rushed
back to the village to tell mis- relatives
ana friends of the discovery. The vii
dnRl -
from sacred origin, and they were i'm
mediately in great demand by the super
stitious celestials at fabulous prices.
They made the Young man rich, and the
belief of their sacreGness has clung to
them ever since.
STEWART CASTLE.
The story Of the lilies naturally turns
ones attention to the residence occupied
by the Chinese Minister where the now
notorious ball took place. 1t is one of the
few structures in this country that can
appropriately be called a castle. 1t was
built by Stewart, of Nevada when that
gentleman had sect Ill the Senate, and
when his wealth was estimated in the
millions. 1t was designed after the style
Of castle on the Rhine which
Mrs. Stewart saw while abroad,
ana to build which she brought an
architect with her across the ocean. 1t
Is said that the most elaborate reception
ever given in the city was when Stew
arts daughters were married there.
Balls and handsome entertainments
made its interior well known during the
brilliant winters of General Grants last
term, and some of the liveliest Incidents
in the city's social history have been
witnessed under its roof. 1t is not many
years ago that the son of a prominent
member of Congress. who had been in
VIted to one of Mrs. Stewards noted balls,
after too many visits to the punch bowl
insisted on emulating Gen. Sherman's
example by kissing every girl in the
room. He was finally thrown out OF
doors by butler in scarlet livery. FL
nally misfortunes came to the Nevada
millionaire, his family again went abroad
and his ''caste" was put up for rent. Be-
fore the Chinese Minister took it, it was
offered, as was every other house In
W Washington nearly, to Secretary Whit
ney. IL is said that Mrs. Whitney was
and was willing to pay the
$4,000 year for its use,
but she wanted 30 repaper and decorate
some of the walls, and to put her own
furniture into the drawing room, but Mrs.
Stewart objected, so the negotiations fell
through. Stewart has just been re-elect-
ed 10 the Senate, and it ls safe to say that
wien ne IGIulub ut VIII dS dlu bdhS DtlH-
session of the castle, though, in all prob
ability, he Will not again undertake to
turn society upside down with his daZ-
cling expenditures.
YOUNG REAL ESTATE DEALERS.
Gen. Logan's son may be an exception
to the rule, but it is, nevertheless, a fact
that most of the young naOObs who have
set themselves up in Washington during
the last few years q 8 real estate dealers
and insurance agents are very fast set
OF fellows. 1t is fact that in many in
stances their offices are sort OF lobby
rooms for their distin guished parents in
the halls of Congress. Their offices are
almost without exception luXuriOusly
furnished, and are Invariably supplied
with generous supply Of liquid refresh
ments. Business with them is a stand
ing joke. All the real estate deals they
make, ana all the Insurance policies
they write in year do not bring in
sufficient money IN the way of
commissions to pay the expenses of
an ordinary mortal, not to speak OF those
Of such spendthrifts as the typical young
man in this line of business in Washing
ton. The fast set in Congress frequently
drop into the Offices and never go away
with their thirst unquenched. The con-
vivial sideboards of these innOcent-loOk-
ing little hooks often have greater iEtlu-
ence IN shaping Legislation than most
people imagine. Some OF the young men
might just as well be tending bar in a sa-
Don, for they DO nothing from morning till
night bnt serve out patent fluids to their
friends. There are a few, iudeed, who
keep a man expressly for this purpose. He
Is always intently studying a book when
an unexpected visitor arrives, but when
the visitor departs bottles and glasses ap-
pear again and the real estate business is
once more in full blast.
ONE OF THE PRESIDENTS FAvoRITEs.
The friendship between President Cleye-
land and Representative Scott, of Penn
sylvauia, antedated the Chief MagIs-
trate's election in business but not a
personal acquaintance. The Presidents
law firm looked after the wealthy coal
operators legal interests al Buffalo when
any services in that line were required.
Tue relations thus formed were most
pleasant from business point OF view,
and it is not surprising, therefore, that
the personal acquaintance OF the two gem
tlemen should have ripened into strong
iriondship. Mr. Scott is the weathiest
man in the House OF Representatives. the
VALUE OF his possessions exceeding $l5,.
700, 600, He il the largest individual coal
\ Nper0tor IN the world, employing 10000
n N in mining and shipping. H8 has
N 'hraclte mines in Eastern Pennsylya-
y. and bltuminous mines in Western
nsyvania. Illinois and Iowa. He also